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Profile: Baroness Scott

Ros Scott had appeared to have an uphill struggle on her hands to be made Liberal Democrat president.

In the race for ordinary members' votes, she was taking on one of the party's best known MPs in Lembit Opik, whose media profile had been boosted by relationships with Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia and weather presenter Sian Lloyd, and regular TV appearances.

Perhaps the Montgomeryshire MP's image played against him. There were reports - denied - that allies of the party leadership had organised a "stop Lembit" campaign because of his image as a "joker".

Lady Scott on the other hand received ringing endorsements from an array of party heavyweights as Sir Menzies Campbell, Vince Cable, Chris Huhne and Baroness Shirley Williams. In total, 25 of the party's 63 MPs backed her.

Mr Cable, the party's deputy leader, said in his endorsement she had both judgement and experience and would be "essential" to the team.

"She's well known at all levels in the party as an effective campaigner but also as a very effective Parliamentarian," he said.

Made a life peer in 2000, Baroness Scott of Needham Market previously had years of experience in local government, serving on district and county councils in Suffolk between 1991 and 2005, and serving in organisations like the LGA transport executive and the Audit Commission.

In the House of Lords she was a spokesman on transport and community and local government.

Being made a peer also gave her an eye-catching title for her blog, Because Baronesses are People Too.

That blog, a Facebook campaign page and another website, im4ros.com were all used to mobilise support for her campaign to succeed Simon Hughes.

As Liberal Democrat president, her main job will be to chair the party's federal executive but she has described the role as "the connection between the members and the party centrally".

She has promised to "remember the activist in the bigger picture" and keep in regular contact with members.

Married, with two grown up children, she splits her time between Suffolk and Wembley. Among her interests are singing - she is a member of a London-based a capella group.

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